By MarthaFitat55
What’s the difference between being involved and being committed? The business fable uses bacon and eggs to explain: the pig is committed, while the hen is involved.
When we talk about fitness, it’s a bit of both. This week, I made the leap from involved to committed. I bought a pair of knee sleeves.
For the last three years, my fitness clothing has been nothing fancy. I originally started with a pair of ratty yoga pants and a tee shirt. Then I graduated to a pair of capris found on the sale rack.
Occasionally when it gets superwarm in the gym during the summer, I rescue one of my old rowing tanks. And while I’ve always invested in good footwear, when a friend offered a pair of deadlift shoes at a discount, I bought them to save her the hassle of returning them. Luckily they turned out to be a good fit, and if I ever decided to stop lifting, they could probably work for something else.
So my approach to workout gear has been minimal at best; involved if you like.
But these knee sleeves are the first thing I have thought about, tried out, and decided to expend the funds necessary for me to have my very own pair so I can lift well and with the proper support.
That’s because these sleeves are simply miraculous, and I don’t use that word lightly.
This winter, my trainer and I have been working on developing greater depth for my squats. I have a regimen of exercises to strengthen my hips, and over time, I have been able to drop lower and lower.
It’s been all good. Except when I watched videos of fabulous women lifters getting their “ass to grass” in squats, I admit I felt a wee bit jealous.
During a cold spell last month, my knees became cranky. My trainer suggested I try the sleeves when we reached higher weights on the bar. I borrowed a pair for the session, and I did not want to give them back. As I worked my way through the sets, I began scheming how these sleeves would be mine.
Since I like the owner, I decided they should stay where they belonged. I did borrow them again a couple of times to be sure they were as good as they felt the first time, and this week, I went online and committed.
The sleeves provide a level of support I did not think was possible, and yet, when I wear them during squat sessions, I have no hesitation standing up after dropping down. Though they are working on the knees, the sleeves send a message to my hips that the knees are in charge and stability is the goal. And while I’m not as close to the level as I see on the training videos, I am achieving very creditable squats that pass the form test quite well for depth and control.
I see you grass and I am coming for you.
— Martha lifts and writes in St. John’s, Newfoundland.
This post made me smile, I think its awesome to invest in things you love. Almost necessary in fact because what other use is the money you work so hard for but to make you happy in one way or another.
Thank you Peter! I’m glad you enjoyed my post. I must say the knee sleeves bring a big smile to my face!
Go Martha Go! We talk a lot about gear on the blog, but what’s important that you pointed out is how it can make a big difference in a bunch of ways. Looking forward to future posts!
Thanks Catherine! One of the issues I am interested in exploring with my phsiotherapist is that since I’ve been using sleeves for squats (last three weeks), this week is the first time in a very long time that I have not had any residual aches and complaints from my hip. I’m not meaning the usual muscle aches you get from exercising a particular body part. I’m meaning the kind of lingering twinge that says “be careful because I’m not 100% okay. and why did you do all this to me?” Purely anecdotal at this point, but I am going to track it since not hearing from my cranky hip is extremely novel to me.